character building
The Gardener’s Seed
In a village on the island of Java, where the shadow of Mount Merapi touched the rice terraces at dawn
The Fisherman’s Daughter and the Sea
On a small island in the Philippine archipelago, where the sea breathes turquoise and the palm trees bow to the
The Rice Jar That Never Emptied
Linh was not a generous child. There, I’ve said it plainly, and there’s no point in pretending otherwise. She was
The Golden Fish of the Mekong
Along the great Mekong River, where the water runs brown and deep, carrying the memories of mountains and the whispers
The Tiger and the Turnip
Once upon a most particular time (which could have been yesterday or a thousand years ago, for time works rather
The Inventor’s Mirror
In the ancient city of Ahmedabad, where the marble temples gleamed white as clouds and the markets buzzed with the
The Inkstone and the Empty Cup
In the time when emperors still ruled the Middle Kingdom, when scholars wore silk robes and poets composed verses by
The Lantern Keeper’s Gift
In the mountains where the prayer flags flutter and fly, Where eagles circle slowly in the bright blue sky, There
The Scarab and the Storm
In the golden days of ancient Egypt, when the great pyramids still gleamed white in the desert sun, there lived
The Harpist’s Gift
In the green hills of Ireland, where the hawthorn blooms white and the streams run silver over ancient stones, there
